Speeches

Madam President, thank you very much. Mr. Commissioner, I would like to thank you. The high house! This war has been going on for 1,028 days. But the lie trying to justify the aggression and subsequent crimes of a terrorist country like the Putin regime began much earlier. It started with falsifying history, a lying narrative about defending the Russian-speaking population, and ended with a special military operation, another big lie. Putin's full-scale war brought death, rape, terror, mass abduction of Ukrainian children, bombing of schools, hospitals and old people's homes. Absurd narratives have been created about the threat to Russian security posed by NATO enlargement. Appears whataboutism, It aims to diminish Russian war crimes by showing that others are waging wars as well. For years, my country, Poland and the Baltic States have been portrayed as enemies of Russia. The government in Kiev has been represented in the same way for years. We cannot ignore these signals. We must counter Russian propaganda, fight troll farms on social media, but above all, we must debunk the Russian false narrative.

Mr President, thank you very much. Mr. Commissioner, I would like to thank you. The Digital Services Act (DSA) was intended to be a European safeguard against online disinformation. Recent events have confirmed that this regulation is not enough. The elections in Romania are a foretaste of what other member states, including my homeland, Poland, may face in next year's presidential elections, soon and on a much larger scale. Social resilience is one of the key challenges for the new Commission, but also for the Polish Presidency. No country, no social media, no money pumped into the Chinese platform can influence the democratic electoral process with impunity. The system does not protect our society from lies and disinformation. It is our shared responsibility to learn from this bitter Romanian lesson. We should think about what to do with entities that do not control the flow of information and interfere so strongly in our daily choices. I would like to point out that it is very important what tools disinformation uses. This is deepfake, this is manipulated data, this is misappropriated information. They fall into people's mistrust and ignorance. They have a powerful influence on attitudes and elections. We need to make sure that these social media provide information that is true and respond to false information and lies.

Madam President, thank you very much. Ombudswoman, please! This is a very important debate on the 2023 report, but I want to take this opportunity to highlight the role of the European Ombudsman in defending our common values of transparency, impartiality and the rule of law. I would also like to point out that there is a need for greater visibility for this office. In the future, we will elect a new spokesperson or a new spokesperson at this session of Parliament. I would like to say that cooperation with non-governmental organisations plays a very important role. Every citizen has the right to make a complaint. But I want to draw attention to the need to cooperate with non-governmental organizations dealing with the interests of the elderly, the interests of people with dependency, disability, in the crisis of homelessness. An important new role for the Ombudsman should also be to draw attention to migration and asylum issues.

Mr President, thank you very much. Representatives of the Commission! I would like to hear one message from this room today, which is a paraphrase of the fight for the rights of Polish women: You will never walk alone. You will always have your allies in this Parliament, in the European Parliament. The high house! For too long, the Iranian regime has used violence to silence the voices of women demanding dignity, freedom and equality. The murder of Mahsa Amini was not an isolated incident. It was the result of a regime that sees women's autonomy as a threat. Since then, countless women have been beaten, detained and executed for exercising their basic rights. These repressions do not take place in a vacuum. The authorities in Tehran act as part of the axis of evil, forming alliances with other authoritarian regimes that undermine the global order and stability. The links between Iran, Russia and Korea should worry us all.

Dear President, Commissioner, Colleagues, In 2020, during the 75th anniversary of the liberation of the Auschwitz-Birkenau Museum, Marian Turski said: “Never be indifferent when any minority is discriminated against.” And I have the impression that he also addressed these words to representatives of some political circles in this Chamber. Ladies and Gentlemen, I am concerned about the legislative changes taking place in Bulgaria or Hungary. Populists, nationalists, and people of ill will exploit affection for non-heteronormative people and objectify minorities for political purposes. Our task, the task of this and future Commission, is also to uphold human dignity, to uphold human rights. I want to say very clearly: Such actions violate the obligations under the Charter of Fundamental Rights of the European Union and the Treaties. And attacking one group opens the door to further violations against other groups. Failure to respond at EU level risks setting a dangerous precedent. I would like to talk about Poland, about my country. For 8 years, the situation of non-heteronormative people was dramatic. The government used scorn on these people, treating it as politics, as government policy, through hatred and division. I want to make it very clear that there are good changes that I want to talk about. Yesterday, the Council of Ministers of Prime Minister Donald Tusk adopted provisions that hate speech against people on the grounds of sexual orientation or gender identity will be prosecuted ex officio. There are good changes.

Dear Madam President, Madam President of the Commission, This is a very important moment for Europe's security. And it is a crucial and historic moment that we are appointing a Commissioner for Defence. Today, Prime Minister Tusk is in Sweden for a meeting of the prime ministers of the Nordic and Baltic countries. He talks about security, because we are preparing for the Polish Presidency of the Council of the European Union. What is important, Madam President, is, above all, the renewal of the dialogue between the European Union and NATO, as you are already doing. We have to be strong. We have to be together. And this is a strategic partnership of key value. But also the challenge that will be the challenge of the Polish Presidency is to renew and formalize the dialogue with the United Kingdom, our key NATO partner in Europe in the area of security and defence. What are the plans in this regard? And can your cabinet confirm the direction I have been talking about today?

Madam President, Vice-President Borrell, dear colleagues, as the new standing rapporteur on the United States for the Foreign Affairs Committee, and in the light of the outcome of the American election, I think there are a few things we need to keep in mind. First, we must maintain our strategic partnership with the United States. NATO is a key guarantor and Article 5 cannot be questioned by anyone. This is what the NATO Alliance is all about. But we must remember, especially in this House of democracy, we are the EU. We are a political union and we cannot be divided. We must demand to be respected in this transatlantic relationship. This is what a true relationship should look like. The first test of this should be Ukraine and our shared commitment to supporting it until victory is achieved. We must finish the job before 20 January. No more red lines for Ukraine using Western weapons. And both the United States and European countries must speed up the delivery of weapons that Ukraine desperately needs. We are ready to stand the course. We are ready to cooperate with the new elected US officials.

Madam President, thank you very much. Yesterday, the Minister of Foreign Affairs of Poland decided to liquidate the consulate of the Russian Federation in Poznań due to the facts revealed by the Polish services related to the arson that is taking place in Poland and behind which Putin's regime is behind. But we also want to talk about actions that we can take in the collective interest at the level of the European Union. We need to build resilient societies, we need to build resilient states and a resilient community. A very important element that I also want to talk about is building resilience in our neighbours. This is also a guarantee of our safety. I would like to ask the Commissioner, do you also see a role for the European institutions in this area (for all of us at the moment, Moldova is an example of building such resilience and an important point of reference)?

Mr President, thank you very much. Dear Commissioner, The law-abiding Poland is back. It came back a year ago, and Article 7 no longer applies. For six years, the European Commission has been conducting proceedings against Poland for serious infringements. But I also want to talk about other things, about what we've been able to do over the last year. First of all, we want Poland to be free from corruption. That is why Poland joined the European Public Prosecutor's Office. This is a very important step in restoring the rule of law. These are changes in the National Prosecutor’s Office – a competition that was open and which is the first step before separating the functions of the Minister of Justice and the Prosecutor General. It is a free media – public media, which is now open to all political actors. It is, finally, the Supreme Audit Office, which can function because it has a staffed college of this Chamber. But we have a lot of work ahead of us. And I want to say very clearly: The government is determined on October 15. We're going back. But we are also returning as an example to other countries – for example Hungary Orbán – that change is possible, that it is needed, that it really depends on the strength of the people, on the strength of the voters, whether we return to the place that is intended for us – in free, fair societies and in free and fair governments.

Mr President, thank you very much. Commissioner, I'm sorry. This will be the most important election in 20 years and will determine the direction of this country for the next decades. In Georgia there is an atmosphere of harassment, an industry of contempt for political opponents, for the opposition. This has to stop. We also need to change the law. What Georgia does not need is draft laws and laws on foreign agents that are inspired – in fact within the Russian Federation – that can actually be a blow to civil society, or laws that can be a blow to the LGBT community. All this means that the election on 26 October will be a major one. This also shows that the European and Euro-Atlantic path of Georgia must be unwavering, and this is worth mentioning. On the other hand, power, especially power that violates standards, which also violates democratic standards, has an impact on how it is perceived also here in the European Parliament. And it is worth mentioning one name: Mikheil Saakashvili, former president, third president of independent Georgia – he is still a prisoner and his fate must be defended here. This is one of those politicians who put Georgia on this European path. Let Georgia stay on this European path.

Mr President, thank you very much. Commissioner, I'm sorry. Today, one message has to come out of the European Parliament: Moldova will be a member of the European Union. This path is irreversible. The resolution prepared by the European People's Party and parliamentarians of the Civic Coalition from Poland is a strong voice of support on the European road and our opposition to attempts by Russia to interfere in the upcoming elections and constitutional referendum. The invasion of Ukraine by a terrorist country such as Putin's Russia has accelerated the weakening of Russian influence in the country. This provokes the fury of the regime and entails unprecedented pressure and illicit blackmail. The FSB director mentions Moldova as a country that could become another state affected by armed conflict. This is an attempt to create a chilling effect on society. At the beginning of September in Chisinau, Polish Prime Minister Donald Tusk assured President Maia Sandu and the Moldovan Parliament of our full support for accession. The Polish Presidency of the Council of the European Union will treat enlargement of the European Union as a priority. What lessons do we need to learn from this? We as Europe, we as Europeans, must consistently build social resilience, fight disinformation and attempts to interfere in democratic electoral processes, build energy independence and build a strong European defence union. You have to move from soft conversations to hard power.

One contemporary authority, Holocaust survivor Marian Turski, formulated the eleventh commandment: Don't be indifferent. And we in Poland are not indifferent. And in Poland we remember. A year ago, Hamas terrorists attacked Israel. The victims were civilians, including children. Those who have been champions of peace and reconciliation for years have also been attacked, kidnapped and killed. Among them was Alex Danzig, a murdered, Warsaw-born Holocaust historian. There is no justification for an act of terror. The Jewish state has the right to exist, and challenging this fact is an expression of anti-Semitism. But what is worse, there is also the phenomenon of denial undermining the veracity of the pogrom on October 7. I also want to say that there are also innocent victims of this war, and I express my sympathy for the tragedy of Palestinian civilians. I also join in grief with the family of the Polish volunteer Damian Sobol, killed during the attack of the Israeli armed forces on the humanitarian convoy. I hope that a political solution will be found that will enable the Israeli and Palestinian people to coexist in peace, enjoying freedom and equal rights. I demand the unconditional release of all hostages.

Mr President, thank you very much. High European Parliament. With this resolution, which we have prepared together, we bear witness that we believe in a free and democratic Belarus, but we also bear witness to the fact that we do not forget the political prisoners of the Lukashenka regime. 1332 people are on the list of the Center for Human Rights Vysna. We remember Ales Bialiatski, we remember Mary Kalesnikava, we remember Siarhei Tsikhanouski, but on this long list there is a particularly important name for us Poles - Andrzej Poczobut. He is a Polish Belarusian journalist, social activist and activist of Polish unions in Belarus. A person who was responsible and involved in the promotion and protection of Polish cultural heritage in difficult political conditions. He was sentenced to eight years in prison in a penal colony. Today we call for: release Andrzej Poczobut! But let us also remember about a free and democratic Belarus. Alive Belarus!

Madam President, thank you very much. Mr. Commissioner, I would like to thank you. The topic we are talking about is very important. This is organised crime, which poses a serious threat to the internal security of the European Union. Poland, its location on the eastern border of the European Union makes it a transit country and is, so to speak, a very strong space for smuggling, possible smuggling. The hybrid war in Belarus targeted the EU, but also Poland, and was a perfect example of how organised crime groups benefit from such situations. That is why it is so important to strengthen the tightness of our external borders and to control who enters the European Union. But there is another subject on which I would like to raise, Your Majesty, and on which I would like to inform you. This problem is corruption. It is therefore of the utmost importance that the European Parliament of the 10th legislature, together with the Council, work towards an anti-corruption directive together with the Commission. The Polish Presidency of the Council of the European Union is also an opportunity, an opportunity to accelerate this work. We're ready to go. We are also ready to talk to the civil society sector, Transparency International and Polish and European NGOs to bring this matter to an end. I would also like to draw your attention to the fact that we, as the Polish delegation in the European People's Party, are pleased that our representative, the representative of the Polish government, Piotr Serafin, will also have the fight against fraud in his portfolio, a very strong, strong portfolio that he has received outside the budget. We very much want to strengthen the work not only of Europol, but also of OLAF. This must be our guardian of our funds, so that they are never embezzled again.

Madam President, thank you very much. This is not the time for politics. At the moment, this debate has also been initiated by the Polish delegation, also in order to help those who have been injured in recent days in the areas where the government declared a natural disaster. We do everything. Ursula von der Leyen will be in Poland in a moment. And we call for the activation of the EU Civil Protection Mechanism. As a Member of the European Parliament, please focus on helping Poles, not on propaganda, indoctrination and disinformation.

Madam President, thank you very much. Mr. Commissioner, I would like to thank you. Hamas's criminal, barbaric attack on Israel on October 7, 2023 destroyed peace in the Middle East, for which it had been working for years. The ongoing war is taking a life that it should never have taken. I demand the immediate release of the hostages held by Hamas terrorists. Among the hostages was Warsaw-born Alex Danzig, a Holocaust historian involved in Polish-Jewish dialogue, who was murdered. Tonight, Israel's security cabinet updated the objectives of the war. The following point has been added: safe return of the inhabitants of the north of the country to their homes. I want to make it very clear that the Union must be on the side of peace, but not at the expense of civilian lives. Israel has the right to defend itself within the limits of international law, but I also want to make it very clear that civilians should be protected, especially women, especially children, and that humanitarian aid should also be provided sufficiently. The European Union has all the instruments to cooperate with the United States, with other international circles and with countries, with organisations, in order to bring about peace, in order to exert pressure. But I also want to talk about this when I talk about the situation in the Middle East. The growing threat of Hezbollah directly supported by Iran. These are all absolutely important issues and it is very good that this discussion continues. Remember, this is the first discussion. In a moment, on October 7, the first anniversary of Hamas's criminal attack. Let's remember the victims and let's remember the hostages, they are kept by terrorists all the time.

Dear Mr President, Dear Commissioner, The Energy Union is a secure, affordable and sustainable energy for all citizens of the European Union, with the aim of moving towards a low-carbon economy and reducing dependence on external energy sources. I would like to thank you for the ninth report on the State of the Energy Union, which confirms achievements but also shows further challenges. According to the report, Russian gas imports decreased from 45% in 2021 to 18% in mid-2024. Question to the Commissioner: Do these data also take into account LNG? We also know that not all Member States are moving at the same pace. Are there any countries that have increased their dependency and does the Commission have any idea how to help in this matter to move even further and faster away from Russian fossil fuels? Another issue – it is also related, Commissioner, to my visit to Kiev four days ago – energy storage. The EU has reached its target of 90%, and we are very happy about that, well ahead of the November deadline. However, we know that for Europe, the coming winter will not be threatened by shortages of energy supplies. Ukraine is in a different situation. According to the data I received in Kiev, Ukraine will have access to electricity and heating only for two hours a day in the coming months, which may cause further migration waves caused by the lack of heat. Is the Commission working on this issue and how can we help Ukraine? But also how can we possibly help countries that will be in the direction of potential migration? Finally, the heat issue. How can we meet the obligations related primarily to the replacement of heating pipes? In Poland, 15 million people use system heat, and only in my city, Warsaw (2 million inhabitants), this problem affects 80% of residents.

Mr President, Russia is the most significant and direct threat to security, peace and stability in Europe. And this threat will not go away as long as Putin's criminal regime is in power. Realistically, the only thing that could destabilise Putin's hold on power is a strategic defeat in Ukraine. Russia has shifted into full war-economy mode, so we have to introduce a real defence union. Just a few days ago, I was in Kyiv and we – the European Parliament, the European institutions – we have to renew momentum in military assistance to Ukraine. Ukraine needs our help – not in two years, not in two months, not even in two weeks; they need it now! Ukraine can only defend itself if it can attack Russian supply lines, Russian bases of operations. It is time to recognise this is a reality and let Ukraine do what it must. EU defence for Ukraine needs to be a major priority. We have to ensure Ukraine airspace is protected. And let's be crystal clear: the European Union will be significantly weakened and lose credibility if we continue assisting with half-measures.

Mr President, thank you very much. The International Holocaust Remembrance Alliance adopted a legally non-binding working definition of antisemitism many years ago. Antisemitism also manifests itself in words, including when the State of Israel is denied the right to self-determination, the right to exist or the right to defend itself, as in the case of the Hamas attack on 7 October 2023. Commissioner, the situation is very serious. I have the impression that this veiled anti-Semitism is working and it needs to be countered. The second issue is the issue of hate speech and hate crimes, which, in my opinion, must become crimes under European Union law. For the past eight years, hate crimes against people with disabilities, people with a different sexual orientation or gender identity have not been prosecuted in Poland. Such situations must be stigmatised and such situations must be well regulated at European level.